Electric fence insulator



ELECTRIC FENCE INSULATOR Filed Feb. 5, 1946 I NVENTOR EDWARD A BEA RD BY Z wm ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FENCE. IN SULATOR Edward A. Beard, Marseilles, 111. Application February 5, 1946, Serial No. 645,588

1 Claim.

This invention relates to insulators, and more particularly to insulators for supporting an electric fence conductor in position.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved insulator of very simple and inexpensive construction, which is very easy to install and which may be readily removed and re-used at different locations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved insulator for supporting a live elec tric fence conductor, said insulator being very easy to manufacture and use, and being formed and arranged so that it is unnecessary to thread the end of the conductor through the insulator during the process of installation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an insulator device according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the head portion of the insulator device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the insulator supporting member employed in the insulator device of Figure 1, said supporting member being shown prior to being bent to operative position.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the supporting member of Figure 4 shown bent to operative insulator supporting position.

Referring to the drawings, II designates an insulator device for supporting the live conductor of an electric fence in spaced relation to a fence post or the like, said insulator device com prising a porcelain insulator I2 of generally annular shape and formed with an inclined slot I3 in its upper portion slightly greater in width than the diameter of the conductor, through which the conductor is passed, said insulator I2 being supported by a metal spike member I4 formed with two pairs of gripping arms I5, I5 and I6, I6 embracing the outer periphery of insulator I2, and further formed with a sharpened 1 shank portion I'I adapted to be driven into a fence post or similar penetrable support. The periphery of insulator I2 is formed with a pair of grooves I8, I8 adapted to receive the gripping fingers I5, I5 and I6, I6.

As shown in Figure 4, spike member I4 is formed initially from a strip of metal and is slit at I9, I9 and 20, 20 to define the bendable fingers I5, I5 and I6, I6 and a driving head portion 22. Insulator member I2 is then positioned on spike member I4 and the fingers are bent up into the peripheral grooves I8, I8 of member I2. The inclined slot I3 is left free for the reception of the electrical conductor after the spike member I4 has been driven into its supporting post.

The inner portion of insulator I2 is formed at slot I3 with a pair of depending ribs 2I, 2|, the ribs being inclined in accordance with the inclination of slot I3. Since the electrical conductor, when drawn to a substantially taut condition after insertion in the insulator, will be at an angle to the plane of slot I3, ribs 2|, 2| will oppose upward movement of the conductor through slot I3 and will thus maintain the conductor in position within the insulator.

While a specific embodiment of an insulator device for supporting an electric fence conductor has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications Within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An insulator for electric fences, comprising a cylindrical insulator member having a central xial opening and a radial slot extending from the outer periphery of said insulator member into said axial opening, the slot being arranged at an angle to the axis of the opening, the sides of the slot extending into said opening to form ribs which are parallel to said slot, the insuiator member also being provided with a pair of spaced circumferentially extending parallel grooves formed in its outer periphery, the grooves having their opposite ends arranged upon opposite sides of and near the slot, a mounting spike secured to the insulator member and disposed opposite to the slot and projecting laterally beyond the opposite sides of the insulator member, and spaced opposed pairs of parallel arcuate fingers secured to the spike and arranged in the grooves and engaging the ends of the grooves, the arcuate fingers serving to secure the spike to the insulator member and to positively hold the insulator member against turning.

EDWARD A. BEARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 22,188 McLeod Nov. 30, 1858 234,523 Bigeon Nov. 16, 1880 844,796 Hatchett Feb. 19, 1907 997,834 Marshall Dec. 29, 1908 1,071,419 Hetherington Aug, 26, 1913 1,620,804 Cutter Mar. 15, 1927 1 705.584 Overstall et al. Mar. 19, 1929 

